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Calcium ion-dependent entry of the membrane-containing bacteriophage PM2 into its Pseudoalteromonas host

Virginija Cvirkaite-Krupovic1, Mart Krupovic, Rimantas Daugelavicius

  • 1Department of Biosciences and Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Virology
|July 22, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Marine bacteriophage PM2 entry into Pseudoalteromonas hosts requires ATP and calcium ions. Infection is blocked without Ca(2+) but can be rescued, and PM2 induces lysis if the host outer membrane is unstable.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Marine bacteriophage PM2 is the sole member of the Corticoviridae family.
  • It infects gram-negative Pseudoalteromonas species, possessing an icosahedral capsid, internal membrane, and supercoiled dsDNA genome.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the entry mechanism of bacteriophage PM2 into its host cells.
  • To elucidate the host factors and conditions required for PM2 infection.

Main Methods:

  • Studied PM2 adsorption and genome penetration under varying intracellular ATP concentrations.
  • Assessed the role of calcium ions (Ca(2+)) and divalent cations in PM2 infection and host cell lysis.

Main Results:

  • PM2 adsorption is dependent on intracellular ATP concentration.
  • Genome penetration requires millimolar Ca(2+) concentrations; infection is arrested without Ca(2+) but rescuable.
  • PM2 entry causes rapid host cell lysis if the outer membrane is not stabilized by divalent cations.

Conclusions:

  • A sequential model for PM2 entry into Pseudoalteromonas hosts was proposed.
  • Host ATP levels and extracellular Ca(2+) are critical for successful PM2 infection.
  • Bacteriophage-induced lysis is linked to host outer membrane stability.

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